The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-09-29
SALT LAKE CITY. UTAH THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 20 1887

rear ana the CROWD maze rush 10r the
grand stand, to see and shake hands
with Uncle Billy" The general re-
fused to respond to the numerous calls
| for a speech, and finding an oppor-
! tuDity, slipped into his carriage and
was quickly driven away.
The encampment opened in due form
in the entertainment hall OF the exposi-
ton building at 8 pm. Commander
in-chief General FaiIchild presided.
The following committee on credentials
was appointed: AID utRnt-GeneralG Gray
Thomas G. Stewart, of Pennsylvania
John Shactcher, Connecticut; James E.
Stewart. Ohio; z. Henry jerks, Rhode
| Island.
The annual address of the COM
! mander-in-chief, which is very long,
was then presented. The general began
| by sending greetings to the people of
| the Pacific Coast for the hospitality
and cordial reception of last year.
He sincerely congratulated the order
that they we're permitted to gather in
this great metropolis and thanked the
citizens of st. Louis for their generous
welc me. He was pleased to announce
the evidence of the permanent and
healthy growth of the Grand Army of
the Republic and for the love of the
order entertained by the loyal people of
this country. That this may continue,
he earnestly cautioned every member
that he keep a Watchful guard over
himself when he acts and speaks as a
member of the Grand Army of the Re-
public-not to unconsciously further
schemes foreign to the purpose
OF the organization. Article nine, for
bidding the use of the organization for
partisan purposes. had, so far as he
knew, been strictly obeyed in letter and
spirit. From Adiutant-General Gray's
report he learned that the total number
of members borne on the rolls of the
order, at the national encampment was
1926 400 The number reported on June
30tb, 1887, was 372, 674, The actual gain
in five quarters, 46.157; increase of
members in the ninety days ending
June Both, 1887. in good standing, was
Ii, 616. In 1880 there were 60, 634 members.
Ia the last five quarters there have been
mustered into the Grand Army y 355.
There were reported on June 80 1887, in
good standing, 336 562; suspended,
% 900; by delinquent reports, 1882.
Total at last returns borne upon tn
rolls, 372 ,674, an increase in member
ship that must be gratifying to all mem
bers. The amount reported as expended
in charity since March, 1886, to March
1887, inclusive, is 1868 ,934 43. This
money was disbursed to 1850 COM
rades and their families, and 1899
others were assisted, giving 26 COG indi-
viduals who had received benefits dur
ing the year. He had established the
provisional DEPARTMENT of Idaho and
! appointed W. II. Mye, of Boise City,
Idaho. as provisional commander; he
had also established the provisional de-
partment of Arizona, Comrade a. L.
| Grow, of Tombstone, ARR provisional
commander. During the year. death
had claimed 400 members. He Sc
lected for special notice, John A. Logan,
who in life had manifested such love,
not only in words. but by active public
and private efforts Did any Loor,
manned veteran need an advocate I?
did the Grand Army need defender :?
His was the first name that came to the
lips, and he was never appealed to ia
vain.
The patent for the Grand Army
| badge has been duly transferred, and is
now the property of the order. The
council of administration has invested
5000 900 of the surplus funds of the or
der In bonds of the United States.
| Memorial day was more generally and
appropriately observed this year than
ever before. This day, sacred to the
memory of the fallen defenders of the
Republic has become most impress
sive and instru tive national holiday. A
letter was received from Joseph w.
Drexel offering in perpetuity the
! cottage on Mount McGregor, in which
General U. S. Grant spent his last days
to the survivors of those gallant men
who saved the country, the only condi-
tons being that the cottage and sur
rounding grounds be held in
trust by the chief
of the Grand Army of the Republic, the
president of the Mount McGregor Rail
way Company, and another to be named
by the donor. General Fairchild re-
commended that it be referred to the
incoming commander-in-chIef with
authority to accept on satisfactory ar
rangements. In September last, when
| the citizens of Charleston, South Caro-
lima, were suffering from the effects of
terrible earthquake. the Grand Army
joined in the relief. He in company with
Adjutant-General Gray, went to the
striker city and called upon
the comrades to raise money
for relief. Collections we're rap
idly made and $7,047 was re-
pOrtou u The naGlOnal headquarters.
1t was understood that there was no
immediate haste, and before the col
lections had gotten fairly under way,
the Mayor of Charleston telegraphed to
headquarters that no further aid would
be required. Had the needs of Charles
ton required it, he felt assured that
100000 could have been raised within
another month. Many posts had
simultaneously received the call for
aid and the order to suspend operations.
He recommended the appointment at
once of competent comrade to write
history of the order, and suggested that
the general government will include in
the next decennial census an enumera-
ton OF the soldiers of the late war of
the rebellion who may be living in 1890.
Our National Game
H..